Unlike the rest of Spain, the Basque Country doesn’t eat tapas but pinchos or ´pintxos` (spelt in Basque). Here pintxos are ordered separately from drinks and therefore do not come free with a beverage as is the case in other Spanish regions. There are two types of pintxos, fried pintxos that are displayed on the bar that you can take as and when you choose or order from the waiting-on staff, and hot pintxos that you have to order with the waiting on staff because they have to be cooked and prepared freshly, or warmed up. Pintxos are usually a snack before going out to eat or eaten in the evening and are usually accompanied by a glass of red wine called txikito, or a beer called zurito. If you are going to visit San Sebastian, famous for the beautiful Concha Beach, its international film festival, as well as for its beautiful streets and traditional buildings, and for the people and the food, we suggest that you take a look at our five best bars or restaurants where you can enjoy the best pintxos in the city.
Txepeta
Pescaderia, 5, Arrandegi
This comprises a small bar in the old part of San Sebastian. You absolutely must stop off there on your way around the town and try some of their famous pintxos, the speciality being their famous anchovies. They prepare them in a large variety of tasty and original ways. Thus, here you can enjoy anchovies with spider crab paste, or anchovy pintxos with sea urchin eggs.
Bar Bergara en Gros
C/General Artetxe, 8
Situated in the district of Gros, this restaurant offers an exquisite range of quality tapas although it is less known for its food than other areas in the city. It is famous for its variety of sandwiches such as Spanish omelette with anchovies, and for their sophisticated range of anchovy, scallop and squid pintxos, all at a very reasonable price and with an unbeatable taste.
Borda Berro
Fermin Calbetón, 12
This is a quite a modest bar but with a large range of imaginative sandwiches and pintxos on offer to the delight of its diners with their risottos, pâtés, and croquettes, etc. Another place to definitely stop-off in San Sebastian.
Bar Txondorra
Fermin Calbetón, 7
Recent renovations have turned this bar into a modern and pleasant area where its diners will be delighted in observing its enormous bar with its large range of pintxos, including specialities such as kangaroo croquettes and vegetables, shark croquettes, brie with sun dried tomatoes and caramelised onion, or baked scallops with mushrooms. All extremely delicious.
Bar Ciaboga
C/Easo, 9
A small bar where diners have been able to try alioli sauce (garlic and olive oil) potatoes with parsley and pepper just how they like it, and which has now become the trademark of this bar. A classic pintxo bar where you can relax only 100 metres away from the Concha Beach.
Click here, to see a map of San Sebastian and the exact location of the bars we have just mentioned.
Claudia -
Equipo Marketing